Sardinian ziqqurat
Ziqquratin Sardinia? This is what Ercole Contu, sardinian prehistoric archaeologist who died in 2018 must have thought.
In the 1950s, he conducted the first excavation campaign on the Monte d'Accoddi site. Immediately, he realized that it was a monumental complex unique not only in Sardinia, but in Europe, including the Mediterranean basin.
We think immediately about the most similar known example: the Mesopotamian ziqqurat. So, is it possible that these two monumental types, thousands of miles away, have common ancestry?
Name's origin
A clue can be provided by etymology. The name "ziqqurat" comes from the Akkadian ziqquratuwhich means "mountain top". The term "accoddi" or "akkoddi" could derive from the Sardinian prenuragic kodi, "mountain" (it is curious to note the assonance with the term Akkad, the territory in which the Akkadian civilization developed).
Therefore, it is possible that the altar had the same Mesopotamian function as the "cosmic mountain", a sort of link between the underworld, the earth (represented by the altar) and the sky, the gods' home.
Ancient echoes
The Monte d’Accoddi site is located in an area rich in nuragic and prenuragic testimonies. This is a sign that this region between cities of Sassari and Porto Torres has been very popular since ancient times. A few kilometers from the altar there are several necropolises and "nuraghi", as well as dolmens and menhirs.
Also near the altar were found the remains coming from the so-called "culture of Ozieri", partly coeval with the Sumerian civilization (3200-2800 BC): a necropolis with hypogean tombs of domus de janas (particular tombs carved in the rock, typical of the pre-nuragic culture), foundations of quadrangular huts, a menhir that perhaps belonged to a sanctuary and two mysterious spherical artifacts. The latter, of distinctly different dimensions, could be a symbolic representation of the sun and moon. This is another link to the famous ziqqurat of Uruk, dedicated to the moon's god Anuor Nanna and probably erected in the same period.
The site
The altar consists of a raised platform in the shape of a top-truncated pyramid. On top there was a cell (today only the foundations are visible) which was the most important and sacred part of the monument. But as in a game of Chinese boxes, inside the platform, was found another one, more ancient and completely incorporated. The top of the monument is reached via a 138 ft. long ramp. This spectacular structure must certainly have been of great visual and emotional impact in the ancient people and contributed to mystery and sacredness that still surrounds it.
The megalithic altar of Monte d'Accoddi
Address: Ex SS 121 KM 222, 07100, Sassari
Phone: 079 200 8072
Site:
http://turismosassari.it/it/esplora/arte-e-cultura/item/380-monte-d-accoddi-il-piu-antico-esempio-del-mediterraneo-di-altare-preistoricoLocation inserted by
Caterina Kate